Mastering Your First User Research Project in 6 Simple Steps 🚀

Whether you're an experienced pro or just starting, these six straightforward steps will walk you through the process, helping you achieve results that match your business goals. Let's get started! 🌊

Step 1: Define your goal(s) clearly 🎯

Before you jump into research, create a clear plan. Your plan should answer the question: "What's the point of this research?" 🤔 In other words, why are you doing it? This step helps you explain your purpose to others in your company. It's also a chance to talk with your team and understand the business priorities that will shape your project. For more guidance on making a strong plan, check out this guide on creating clear research goals

Step 2: Handle tricky conversations confidently 🤝

User research isn't always easy. Shifra Cook, the CEO and Founder of Ayda explains that part of your job might involve having difficult conversations. Sometimes, what you find in your research might not match what the company expects. Even if that's the case, you need to share your findings. Shifra Cook puts it:

"You have to be ready for some people not to agree with you."

Remember, your insights are important for making good decisions.

Step 3: Talk to the right people for valuable insights 👥

Your research is only as good as the people you talk to. Finding the right folks who can give you useful information is essential. Use screeners to find participants who fit your research goals. Think of it like finding the right puzzle pieces. For example, if you're studying dog ownership, you'd ask if people have dogs in a screener. Ayda's screener feature makes this part easy.

For tips on how to recruit users, set up a call with the Ayda team or check out our posts on recruiting using LinkedIn.📋

Step 4: Analyse findings together to avoid bias 🔍

When looking at your research, it's smart to get different opinions. Shifra Cook suggests having three people look at the results together to ensure nobody's opinion takes over. This helps make sure your analysis is fair. It's okay to miss things sometimes, so having others look is so helpful. If you want to know more about avoiding bias, watch Ayda's webinar on research bias. 📊

Step 5: Create clear interview questions 🗣️

Good interviews start with good questions. Remember when you were in school, and your teacher would have you test your survey questions on each other to ensure they were easy to understand to someone who has little or no context of the wider project? Do the same with your research questions now. Ask coworkers and people outside your company to see if your questions make sense. It might feel like extra work, but it's important. If you want to learn more about making the most of interviews, Ayda's webinar on effective interviews is a great resource. 🎙️

Step 6: Use your time wisely ⏰

Did you know that most researchers spend 92% of their time on tasks that aren't research? Ayda is here to help. Our platform handles the boring stuff, like organizing participants and rewarding them. This way, you can focus on the exciting parts: gathering and understanding data. ⌛

In conclusion, mastering your first user research project is within your reach. Follow these six steps and use Ayda's support to tackle challenges, gather meaningful insights, and make decisions that drive success. Every step matters on your journey to effective user research. Happy researching! 🚀

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